How are we preparing nurse leaders? A study of baccalaureate curricula.

What is leadership? Is it different from management? If so, how is it different? This study was designed to achieve several purposes: to clarify the conceptual differences between leadership and management; to identify the leadership/management concept included in baccalaureate programs in nursing; and compare and contrast the program content with the conceptual definitions. A review of eight program components contained in the National League for Nursing Self-Study Reports of 10 accredited programs in the mid-Atlantic region was conducted to achieve these purposes. This analysis revealed that despite their conceptual differences, nursing faculty generally use leadership and management interchangeably, and the emphasis in most programs is on management training rather than leadership development.

Duke Scholars

Author Theresa Mary Valiga School of Nursing